Essential Oils For Diabetic Neuropathy

Essential Oils For Diabetic Neuropathy-Diabetes can cause long-term problems for your whole body, especially if you do not control your blood sugar effectively and leave it high for years. High blood sugar can damage nerves that send signals from the hands and feet. This damage is called diabetic neuropathy.Diabetic neuropathy can cause numbness or tingle in your fingers, be it a toe or hand. Other symptoms include pain such as burning, exposure to sharp objects, and pain (diabetic nerve pain). The pain may be mild at first, but it can get worse over time and can spread to your legs or arms. Walking can be very painful and you may be in pain, even just because of the soft touch.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, 10%-20% of people with diabetes have experienced nerve pain. Nerve damage can affect your ability to sleep and your overall quality of life. Having a chronic illness can also cause depression.

What is the treatment for diabetic neuropathy?

Although damaged nerves cannot be replaced, there are ways to prevent further damage and reduce pain.

The first step to treating your pain is by controlling your blood sugar, so the damage does not develop. Talk to your doctor about your blood sugar regulation, and learn how to monitor it. You may be asked to lower blood sugar by 70-130 mg / dL before meals and less than 180 mg / dL of blood sugar after meals.

Use diet, exercise, and medications to lower your blood sugar to the targeted range. Note also other health risks that can make your diabetes worse. Keep your weight under control. If you smoke, ask your doctor to explain the various effective ways to quit smoking.

Your doctor may first suggest that you try painkillers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil). These drugs are available without a prescription and may cause side effects. Try using low doses in a short time to control the symptoms. There are other options if you need long-term pain relief or a stronger pain reliever.

Antidepressants

These drugs are most often used to treat depression. But antidepressants are also often prescribed to treat diabetic nerve pain, as it can affect the chemicals in your brain that cause you pain. Doctors may recommend tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil), imipramine (Tofranil), and desipramine (Norpramin). These drugs can cause unpleasant side effects such as dry mouth, fatigue, and sweating. You may not be advised to take tricyclic antidepressants if you have a history of heart problems.

The latest generation of serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) such as venlafaxine (Effexor) and duloxetine (Cymbalta) is an alternative for tricyclics. They tend to have fewer side effects.

Anti-seizure medication

Drugs used to prevent seizures in epilepsy patients such as pregabalin (Lyrica), gabapentin (Gabarone, Neurontin), phenytoin (Dilantin), and carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol) may also help overcome nerve pain. Pregabalin can also help you sleep better. Side effects of this drug include drowsiness, swelling, and dizziness.

Opioid pain medication

To relieve stronger pain, there are strong drugs such as oxycodone (Oxycontin) and opioids such as tramadol (Conzip, Ultram). This drug tends to be the last resort to deal with pain. You may turn to these medications if other treatments do not work. Although they can help reduce pain, these drugs are not meant to be consumed in the long run because of the risk of side effects and potentially addictions. Be very careful when taking opioid drugs and consult your doctor.

Topical pain relief

There are also products that you can rub or attach to your skin in painful areas. Cream Capsaicin (Arthricare, Zostrix) can help prevent pain signals by using ingredients found in chili. The capsaicin product can cause skin irritation in some people. The lidocaine patch gives local anesthetic through patches placed on the skin. Keep in mind this as treatment can sometimes cause mild skin irritation.

Alternative medicine

Several alternative therapies have been studied for diabetic nerve pain, although the therapy has not been proven. Alternative treatments include:

Supplements such as alpha lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine

Biofeedback

Meditation

Acupuncture

Hypnosis

How to treat my diabetes so as not to get this complication?

Diabetic nerve damage can cause pain, but it can also affect your ability to feel pain. That’s why it’s important to keep your feet healthy. Try the following techniques to treat your feet better:

Check your feet every day to see cuts, swelling, and other problems. You probably will not know this problem until your legs are completely infected. An untreated infection can lead to serious complications and even amputations. Wash your feet daily with warm water and dry afterward. Then apply lotion to keep them moist. Do not apply lotion between your toes.

Wear comfortable, flexible shoes and fit your feet and give room to move. Use your new shoes slowly, so do not hurt your legs. Ask your doctor how to get special shoes if ordinary shoes do not fit. Always cover your feet with shoes, sandals, or thick socks to protect your feet and prevent injuries. Is there any way to prevent diabetic neuropathy?

The best way to avoid nerve pain is to keep your blood sugar under control to prevent nerve damage early on. Follow your doctor’s advice on diet, exercise, and care.